Cooking range control arrangement



June 6, 1967 J. D. EDWARDS COOKING RANGE CONTROL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 8, 1963 f 7108772 57": \kmsflfdwarcis Z June 6, 1967 J. D. EDWARDS COOKING RANGE CONTROL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 8, 1963 \jnzesfi.zdwczrds 2%? June 6, 1967 D. EDWARDS v COOKING RANGE CONTROL ARRANGEMENT 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed .Nov. 8, 1963 III illlllllllllllIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll!llllllllllflllill l IllIIIllllll'lllllllllllIllllllllllllIlIIIllIlll khfizesfifcizuczrds PM X 3 United States Patent C) 3,324,279 COOKING RANGE CONTROL ARRANGEMENT James D. Edwards, Etfiugham, Ill., assignor to Borg- Warner Corporation, Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Filed Nov. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 322,361 10 Claims. (Cl. 219480) This invention relates to a range and more particularly to controls for an oven arrangement for a range.

The object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved control for a heating element of an oven for ranges which oven may be stored in the back panel of the range and can be lowered to a position over an adjacent surface heating unit of the range. The oven is of a relatively small size and is particularly suited for small items, such as buns, TV dinners, and other small dishes. Due to the small size of the oven, a 1l0-volt circuit is utilized to energize the heating element to heat the oven rather than the 220-volt circuit normally used with the surface heating units. A novel control circuit is provided whereby, when the oven is lowered over the adjacent surface heating unit, the 220-volt circuit to the surface heating unit is automatically interrupted and the 110-volt circuit is established for the oven heating element.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein preferred forms of the present invention are clearly shown.

1 'In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is .a perspective view of the portion of a range illust-rating'an oven positioned wherein a storage compartment in the range back panel and adjacent a surface heating element on the top' of the range;

FIG. 2 is a view, partially'in section, illustrating the oven in its horizontal or operative position supported on I the surface heating element;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view taken along the lines 66 or FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the control circuit for an electric surface heating element and the oven heating element; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of a control circuit illustrating a modification of the invention as applied to a surface gas burner and oven element. V V I Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown an electric range 10 having a back panel 11 with an oven 12 mounted therein. The back panel 11 extends upwardly of the top surface 13 of the range and carries the usual manually settable temperature control and timing devices (not shown). A surface heating element 14 is located adjacent and forward of the back panel 11.

A surface heater 14 comprises a heating element supported by the top of the range and controlled in any wellcircuit being shown which is important to a disclosure of the pressure invention, as will appear from the description of FIG. 7. p

'Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a storage compartment is provided in the back panel '11 formed of sheet metal of 1 adapted to be engaged by rollers 24 mounted on the oven 12 to guide the oven when it is lowered over the surface heating element and also to retain the oven within the back panel 11. It may be noted a pair of rollers 24 are provided on each side of the oven 12, one roller being engaged in each of the guide slots 22 and 23.

Referring to 'FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, a lever 30 is pivoted on the outer side wall 20 and 31 and engages a resilient arm 32. The arm 32 (FIG. 6) is mounted on a micro switch 33 fixed to the range back panel. Operating button 34 of the microswitch 33 is engaged by the resilient arm 32.

The oven has an inner housing 40 in which a thermostatic control 50, of well-known type, is mounted, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Asbestos liners 41 and 42 surround the housing 40 and hold the heating coils 43 in position around the housing 40. The end-s of the asbestos liners 41 and 42 are secured together by means of staples (not illustrated) and provide a complete encircling structure around the housing 40. An aperture is provided in the liners 41 and '42 to accommodate the thermostatic control 50.

The thermostatic control 50 comprises a bimetallic arm 51 with a non-conductive button 52 mounted thereon, and resilient arms 53 and 54 having contacts 55 and 56 thereon. A support arm 5-7 is provided having a nut 58 thereon. The bi-metallic arm 51, resilient arms 53 and 54, and the support arm 57 are separated by insulating material as indicated at 59 and secured to the inner housing 40 by a screw 60.

The thermostatic control unit 50 is provided with a dial 61 having temperature indications thereon. The dial 61 is fixed to a shaft 62 which has threads (not illus tra-ted) engaging the threads within the nut 58 of the support arm 57. The shaft 62 carries a non-conductive button 63 on the end thereof engageable with the resilient arm 53. The source of power (to be later described) and the heating coils 43 are suitably connected to the thermostatic control unit 50 so that, when contacts 55 and 56 are closed, a circuit is completed through the heating coils 43.

I The thermostatic control unit 50 is operative in the known manner to maintain the desired temperature within the oven 12, as selected by the dial 61. As the dial 61 is moved from its off position to increasing temperatures, the action of the shaft '62, turning within the nut 58, will withdraw the button 63 and thus resilient arms 53 and 54 will move to the right, as illustrated in FIG. 4. Therefore, as the temperature setting is increased, the resilient arm 56 is moved further to the right away from the button 52 on the bi-metallic arm 51. When the desired temperature is reached within the auxiliary oven 12, the bi-metallic arm 51 will distort and move toward the resilient arm 54 until contacts 55 and 56 are separated, thus interrupting the heating circuit through the coils 43.

' known manner, only that portion of the heating element The control circuits for the surface heating element and oven element is illustrated in FIG. 7. Conductors and 71 are the power lines leading from a ZOO-volt power source and conductor 72 is the neutral wire. Conductor 70 is connected to contact 75 of the microswitch 33. An arm 76 is provided within the microswitch 33 which is engageable with either contact 77 or contact 78. Conductor 79 connects contact 77 with the surface heating element 14,

temperature-responsive switch 82, and conductor 71.

Conductor 80 connects the contact 78 to contact 81. The thermostatic control unit 50 and the heating coils 43 of the oven 12 are schematically illustrated within the oven 12 and are connected in series between the conductor 80 and neutral conductor 72. The neutral conductor 72 is connected to the heating coil 43 of the over by contact 82. For further details of the structure of the oven and the range back panel, reference may be had to United States Patent No. 3,251,354 issued May 17, 1966, of common assignee.

The operation of the control circuits for the surface heating element and oven heating element is as follows. When it is desired to use the oven, it is lowered to its horizontal position over the surface heating element 14. As the oven moves to its horizontal position, rollers 24 move along the guide slots 22 and 23.

As illustrated in FIGS. and 6, as one of the rollers 24 (in the lower portion of FIG. 3) moves down in the guide slot 23, it contacts the lever 30. The roller 24 moves the left end of the lever 30 down and the lever thus is rotated in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 5. The opposite end of the lever 30, in engagement with the resilient arm 32, will then move the resilient arm 32 from its dotted line position to its full line position, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Referring to 'FIG. 7, when the oven is in its stored and inoperative position in the back panel 11, contact arm 76 of the microswitch 33 will engage contact 77 and thus complete a 220-volt circuit between wires 70 and 71 and through the surface heating element 14 to render the surface heater element 14 operative. At this time, the resilient arm 32 is in the dotted line position in FIG. 6.

When the oven is moved to its horizontal position and the resilient arm 32 is moved to its full line position, the button 34 is moved actuating microswitch 33 and the arm 76 moves to the position illustrated in FIG. 6. Thus, a l-volt circuit is completed through the thermostatic control 50 and .the heating element 43 of the oven 12, the power flowing through conductor 70, arm 76, conductor 80, thermostatic control 50, heating coil 43, and neutral conductor 72. Since the arm 76 is no longer in engagement with contact 77, the 220- volt circuit through the surface heating element 14 is interrupted. Accordingly, the microswitch 33 will establish either a 110-volt circuit for the heating coil 43 of the oven 12, or a 220-volt circuit for surface heating element 14.

It will be apparent that the novel and relatively simple control automatically switches the electric power from .the surface heating element to the oven when the oven is lowered to its operative position. Due to the operation of the control, there is no possibility of damaging the oven by operation of the surface heating element when the oven is in its operative or horizontal position.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, and referring to FIG. 8, it is contemplated a gas burner GB may be the surface heater with the gas-supplying valve V for the burner being controlled by an electrically-operated solenoid S actuatable to render operative the burner GB, energization and deenergization of the solenoid being controlled by opening and closing of the contacts 76-77 and 76-78 by oven movement as described whereby when the electrical circuit through solenoid S is interrupted the valve V will shut olf the gas supply in a manner known in the art. Accordingly, I do not wish to be limited to the precise details and construction of the embodiment set forth, but wish to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and manually movable therefrom to a position above said surface heater; a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for rendering operative said surface heater; a second eelctrical circuit for energizing said heating coil;

means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit; and means controlled by said oven, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

2. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and manually movable therefrom to a position above said surface heater; a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for rendering operative said surface heater; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch mounted on said back panel and normally establishing said first circuit to effect operation of said surface heater; and mechanical means controlled by said oven, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

3. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and manually movable therefrom to a position above said surface heater; a heating coil mounted Within said oven; a first electrical circuit for rendering operative said surface heater; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit to effect operation of said surface heater guide means connecting said oven and said panel and adapted to retain said oven in said compartment and to guide said oven to a position above said surface heater; and means controlled by said guide means, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

4. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its-top surface; a back panel disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having a compartment adjacent said surface heater; an oven; means mounting said oven in said compartment and for movement therefrom to a position above said surface heater; a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for rendering operative said surface heater; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit to effect operation of said surface heater; and means associated with and controlled by said oven-mounting means, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

5. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disopsed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and manually movable therefrom to a position above said surface heater; a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for rendering said surface heater operative; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit for operation of said surface heater; and a lever pivoted on said back panel and controlled by said oven, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for

operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

6. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface,

said heater being an electrically-energizable element; a

a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for energizing said surface heater element; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit to energize said surface heater element; and means controlled by said oven, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

7. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface, said surface heater being a gas burner; a valve for supplying gas to said burner; a solenoid controlling operation of said valve; a back panel disposed at the rear of, and extending above, the top surface of said main body portion and having a compartment adjacent said surface heater; an oven mounted in said compartment and movable therefrom to a position above said srface heater; a heating coil mounted within said oven; a first electrical circuit for energizing said solenoid to render operative said surface heater; a second electrical circuit for energizing said heating coil; means controlling said circuits and including a switch normally establishing said first circuit to energize said solenoid; and means controlled by said oven, upon movement of the oven to a position above said surface heater, for operating said switch to interrupt said first circuit and to establish said second circuit.

8. In a heating appliance, a main body portion with an electrically-energizable surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disopsed at the rear of and extending above the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and movable to a horizontal position above said surface heater; a heating coil in said oven; a first control circuit for energizing said surface heater; a second control circuit for energizing said heating coil, said circuits including a 220-volt power source including two power conductors and a neutral conductor; a switch mounted in said back panel and controlling said circuits; a thermostatic control mounted on said oven, said thermostatic control being connected in series with one of said power conductors, said switch, said coil, and said neutral conductor in said second circuit, said surface heater being connected in series with said switch and said power conductors in said first circuit, said switch normally establishing said first circuit; and means on said oven and engageable with said switch, when the oven is moved to its horizontal position, to actuate said switch to establish said second circuit and to interrupt said first circuit.

9. In a heating appliance, a main portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface, said surface heater being a gas burner, a valve controlling the supply of gas to said burner, and a solenoid energizable for operating said valve; a back panel disposed at the rear of and extending above the top surface of said main body portion and having an oven mounted therein adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and movable to a horizontal position above said surface heater; a heating coil in said oven; a first control circuit for energizing said solenoid to render operative said surface heater; a second control circuit for energizing said heating coil; a control switch mounted in said back panel and controlling said circuits; a thermostatic switch mounted on said oven, said thermostatic switch being connected in series with said control switch and said coil in said second circuit, said solenoid being connected in series with said control switch in said first circuit, said control switch normally establishing said first circuit; and means on said oven and engageable with said control switch, when the oven is moved to its horizontal position, to actuate said control switch to establish said second circuit and to interrupt said first circuit.

10. In a heating appliance including a main body portion with a surface heater provided in its top surface; a back panel disposed at the rear of and extending above the top surface of said main body portion; an oven mounted in said back panel and adapted to be stored in a vertical position within said back panel and movable to a horizontal position above said surface heater; a 220- volt power source for said range including two power conductors and a neutral conductor; a first control circuit for said surface heater; a second control circuit for said coil; said circuits including a control switch mounted in said back panel; a thermostatic switch mounted on said oven, said thermostatic switch being connected in series with said control switch and said neutral conductor, said surface heater being connectible in a series with said control switch and said power conductors, said control switch normally connecting said power source to said surface heater to establish a 220-volt circuit therethrough; rollers mounted on said oven to guide said oven when it is moved to its horizontal position; means actuatable by one of said guide rollers for engaging said control switch, when the oven is moved to its horizontal position, to operate said control switch to establish said second circuit and to interrupt said first circuit.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,179,340 4/1916 Smith 219--395 3,051,157 8/1962 Rice 12619 3,051,819 8/1962 Smith 126-37 X RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. C. L, ALBRI'ITON, Assistant Examiner, 

1. IN A HEATING APPLIANCE INCLUDING A MAIN BODY PORTION WITH A SURFACE HEATER PROVIDED IN ITS TOP SURFACE; A BACK PANEL DISPOSED AT THE REAR OF, AND EXTENDING ABOVE, THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID MAIN BODY PORTION AND HAVING AN OVEN MOUNTED THEREIN ADAPTED TO BE STORED IN A VERTICAL POSITION WITHIN SAID BACK PANEL AND MANUALLY MOVABLE THEREFROM TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID SURFACE HEATER; A HEATING COIL MOUNTED WITHIN SAID OVEN; A FIRST ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR RENDERING OPERATIVE SAID SURFACE HEATER; A SECOND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT FOR ENERGIZING SAID HEATING COIL; MEANS CONTROLLING SAID CIRCUITS AND INCLUDING A SWITCH NORMALLY ESTABLISHING SAID FIRST CIRCUIT; AND MEANS CONTROLLED BY SAID OVEN, UPON MOVEMENT OF THE OVEN TO A POSITION ABOVE SAID SURFACE HEATER, FOR OPERATING SAID SWITCH TO INTERRUPT SAID FIRST CIRCUIT AND TO ESTABLISH SAID SECOND CIRCUIT. 